Gaia Royal Hotel

The beach parties on Wednesdays had good music and a nice atmosphere. The hotel itself is right on the beach, with several pools, decent rooms, and a great location. We stayed for a few days in July 2025. We found that Gaia royals' entertainment team was friendly enough, but compared with other teams it lacked energy, charisma, and personality. Guests left towels on sunbeds overnight to reserve them for their stay, and hotel staff or management didn't seem to address it. The crazy golf was another activity option, though it looked worn and poorly maintained.

We were expecting something quite different. The grounds, pools, and reception area were generally clean, and the bar staff, both at reception and by the pool, were lovely. That was about it. The experience felt closer to two stars than the four stars advertised by LoveHolidays. The biggest issue was how staff treated us. Reception and housekeeping were often rude. Every morning at 9 a.m., housekeeping knocked to ask whether we wanted towels or toilet roll, rather than checking the room while we were out. One morning, when we didn't answer because we were exhausted, a housekeeper came in anyway. I asked reception not to knock the next day. The receptionist stared blankly until I repeated myself, rolled her eyes, and told me to use a do not disturb sign. We didn't have one. She asked for our room number, but they knocked again at 11 a.m. the next day, then again at 12, this time asking us to remove the sign they'd told us to use. Later, a housekeeper banged on the door and shouted at my friend for supposedly complaining at reception. My friend had only politely asked for the bed to be changed while we were out the next day. She tried to explain, but the housekeeper kept going. It was uncomfortable and completely unprofessional. At check-in, nobody gave us wristbands or mentioned them later. Around 1:45 p.m., we asked about a local pharmacy. Harry at reception said the hotel had an arrangement with a nearby pharmacy that could deliver. While we explained what we needed, he chatted in Greek to his colleague and ignored us. When I tried to clarify, he cut me off with, “Yes, I’m aware.” After making us wait about 15 minutes, he said we'd waited too long and the pharmacy was closed. I said it showed online as open until 9 p.m.; he shrugged and told me it was closed and to come back at 5. Then he looked at me and spoke directly in Greek. When I said I didn't understand, he replied, “Why would you? I’m speaking Greek.” I've never had such a rude attitude from hotel staff. The food was bland, soggy, and beige, and the fruit bar was four bowls of unchilled fruit with flies hovering around. Drinks were so watered down you'd drown before getting drunk. Only red or white wine and beer were included; even hot chocolate cost extra. Pool snack bar food had been left out until it turned rubbery. My friend tried using it as fishing bait, but even the fish wouldn't take it. Although it was advertised as a beach resort, the beach beds supposedly belonging to the hotel cost €8 a day, which adds up for a family of four. The beach bar wasn't included in all-inclusive either, so every drink there cost extra. At the petting farm, a dead bird stayed in its cage all day, and the horses seemed to have very little room to move.

If you have children or fussy eaters, the food might be a struggle since it was quite unusual. For us, though, the food was really nice, the staff were lovely, and the hotel was super relaxing. There are three well-kept pools, and the beach is very close. Night entertainment included live music, games, and a dance act on Greek night. All-inclusive drinks meant spirits, wine, and beer, not cocktails. The beach bar wasn't included, but its drinks were cheap. You can borrow beach towels from reception for 10 euros, refunded when you return them. I’d recommend the hotel.

We hardly used the pools and skipped the animation programs, spending our time on the lovely sandy beach instead. The sea has a gradual entry. At the beach bar, prices were reasonable, though it wasn't part of all-inclusive. A standard sunbed cost €8 for the day, a wooden one with a mattress €10, and a gazebo €14. We stayed in a Family Superior 2 Bedrooms Side Sea View room, in a building very close to the beach. The terrace had a beautiful sea view. The room was cleaned daily, towels were changed, and the coffee and tea supplies were replenished regularly. Mosquitoes appeared after dark, as we'd read in reviews, but window and door screens kept them out of the room. The hotel has a wide range of facilities, although there isn't much else nearby. The closest attraction is a water park 2km away. We spent an afternoon there and both the adults and children loved it. Entry was a bit expensive, at €22 for an adult and €14 for a child. The staff were helpful, kind, and smiling. The food was excellent, with some menu items changing each day, so we could have something different every time. We always found a table on the dining terrace, and staff did a great job clearing and resetting them. The room showed a little wear in places, which wasn't surprising given how long ago the much-praised renovation took place, but it was still a pleasant, relaxing stay. The hotel was the first stop on the airport transfer, and the ride took no more than 20 minutes each way. It exceeded our expectations, and I highly recommend it.